Pallid bat (Antrozous pallidus) proposed recovery strategy 2017: part 2

Part 2 - Recovery Plan for the Pallid Bat (Antrozous pallidus) in British Columbia, prepared by the Pallid Bat Recovery Team for the British Columbia Ministry of Environment

Recovery Plan for the Pallid Bat (Antrozous pallidus) in British Columbia

Photo of part 2 document cover
Photo: © Jared Hobbs, Hobbs Photo Images Co.

Prepared by B.C. Ministry of Environment
November 2016

Document information

About the British Columbia recovery strategy series

This series presents the recovery documents that are prepared as advice to the Province of British Columbia on the general approach required to recover species at risk. The Province prepares recovery documents to ensure coordinated conservation actions and to meet its commitments to recover species at risk under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk in Canada and the Canada–British Columbia Agreement on Species at Risk.

What is recovery?

Species at risk recovery is the process by which the decline of an endangered, threatened, or extirpated species is arrested or reversed, and threats are removed or reduced to improve the likelihood of a species' persistence in the wild.

What is a provincial recovery document?

Recovery documents summarize the best available scientific and traditional information of a species or ecosystem to identify goals, objectives, and strategic approaches that provide a coordinated direction for recovery. These documents outline what is and what is not known about a species or ecosystem, identify threats to the species or ecosystem, and explain what should be done to mitigate those threats, as well as provide information on habitat needed for survival and recovery of the species. The provincial approach is to summarize this information along with information to guide implementation within a recovery plan. For federally led recovery planning processes, information is most often summarized in two or more documents that together make up a recovery plan: a strategic recovery strategy followed by one or more action plans used to guide implementation.

Information in provincial recovery documents may be adopted by Environment and Climate Change Canada for inclusion in federal recovery documents that federal agencies prepare to meet their commitments to recover species at risk under the Species at Risk Act.

What's next?

The Province of British Columbia accepts the information in these documents as advice to inform implementation of recovery measures, including decisions regarding measures to protect habitat for the species. Success in the recovery of a species depends on the commitment and cooperation of many different constituencies that may be involved in implementing the directions set out in this document. All British Columbians are encouraged to participate in these efforts.

For more information

To learn more about species at risk recovery in British Columbia, please visit the B.C. Recovery Planning webpage.

Recommended citation

B.C. Ministry of Environment. 2016. Recovery plan for the Pallid Bat (Antrozous pallidus) in British Columbia. B.C. Ministry of Environment, Victoria, BC. 46 pp.

Cover illustration/photograph

Jared Hobbs, Hobbs Photo Images Co.

Additional copies

Additional copies can be downloaded from the B.C. Ministry of Environment Recovery Planning webpage

Disclaimer

This recovery plan has been prepared by the British Columbia Ministry of Environment, as advice to the responsible jurisdictions and organizations that may be involved in recovering the species. The B.C. Ministry of Environment has received this advice as part of fulfilling its commitments under the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk in Canada and the Canada–British Columbia Agreement on Species at Risk.

This document identifies the recovery strategies and actions that are deemed necessary, based on the best available scientific and traditional information, to recover Pallid Bat populations in British Columbia. Recovery actions to achieve the goals and objectives identified herein are subject to the priorities and budgetary constraints of participatory agencies and organizations. These goals, objectives, and recovery approaches may be modified in the future to accommodate new findings.

The responsible jurisdictions have had an opportunity to review this document. However, this document does not necessarily represent the official positions of the agencies or the personal views of all individuals.

Success in the recovery of this species depends on the commitment and cooperation of many different constituencies that may be involved in implementing the directions set out in this plan. The B.C. Ministry of Environment encourages all British Columbians to participate in the recovery of Pallid Bat.

Acknowledgements

Vanessa Craig (EcoLogic Research) prepared this revised version. Brian Campbell (Environment and Climate Change Canada–Canadian Wildlife Service [ECCC–CWS], National Capital Region[NCR]); Matt Huntley, Tanya Luszcz, and Kella Sadler (ECCC–CWS), Pacific Region (PAC), Paul Johanson (CWS-NCR); Peter Fielder and Purnima Govindarajulu (B.C. Ministry of Environment [MOE]); Orville Dyer, Grant Furness, and John Wilmshurst (B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations); Cori Lausen (Wildlife Conservation Society Canada); Mike Sarell (Ophiuchus Consulting), Jared Hobbs (Hemmera Envirochem Inc.), and Jonathan Tillie (B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure) provided comments on the updated revised version. The revised document builds on the previous version of the recovery strategy prepared by the Pallid Bat Recovery Team (2008; see acknowledgments therein for contributors). The first draft of this updated version of the recovery plan was prepared by Kella Sadler, Matt Huntley, and Tanya Luszcz. Funding was provided by Environment and Climate Change Canada. Threats assessment participants included Mark Brigham (University of Regina), Orville Dyer, Dave Fraser (MOE), Purnima Govindarajulu, Jared Hobbs, Matt Huntley, Tanya Luszcz, Daniela Rambaldini (University of Regina), Mike Sarell, Leah Ramsay (MOE), as well as Leah Westereng and Peter Fielder (facilitators, MOE).

Executive summary

The Pallid Bat(Antrozous pallidus) is a relatively large bat (102–135 mm body length) with long, prominent ears and large eyes. It has a strikingly unique appearance with creamy-white dorsal fur, ivory or white ventral fur, and grey or pinkish brown wing membranes. These bats have been observed in Canada, most commonly from late May to mid-October, in cliff, shrub–steppe, and open ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) habitats below 800 m in the south Okanagan valley of British Columbia.

The Pallid Bat is designated as Threatened in Canada by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and the species is included on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA). The Threatened designation by COSEWIC is related to the bat's small estimated population size, restricted distribution, restricted availability of roosting habitat, a continued decline in foraging habitat, and because a rescue effect from neighbouring populations in Washington State has been assessed as highly unlikely.

In British Columbia, the Pallid Bat is ranked S2 by the B.C. Conservation Data Centre and is on the provincial Red list. The B.C. Conservation Framework ranks the Pallid Bat as a priority 2 under goal 3 (maintaining the diversity of native species and ecosystems). It is an offence to kill or capture the Pallid Bat under the provincial Wildlife Act.

Known threats to the Pallid Bat in Canada include the emerging threat of white-nose syndrome, as well as the loss and degradation of foraging and roosting habitat from transportation and service corridors, residential development, agricultural development, and recreational activities.

The recovery (population and distribution) goal is to maintain current Pallid Bat populations within their Canadian range.

The following are the recovery objectives for the Pallid Bat:

  1. to protect,Footnote7 manage, and monitor Pallid Bat habitats, including maternity roosts, day roosts, hibernacula, night roosts, and foraging habitat, to ensure that suitable characteristics of the habitat remain available to the species;
  2. to determine Pallid Bat population trends and vital rates (e.g., survival rates, reproductive rates);
  3. to identify the full range extent of the Pallid Bat in British Columbia, with a focus on identifying the location of maternity roosts and hibernacula;
  4. to conduct research into the impact of threats to roosts and foraging habitat (e.g., habitat conversion and development, grazing, fire and fire suppression), threats to bats (e.g., white-nose syndrome, recreational activities, human disturbance, and pesticide use) and effectiveness of recovery actions; and
  5. to improve our understanding of key factors contributing to Pallid Bat decline, and possible constraints to recovery.

Recovery feasibility summary

Based on the following four criteria that Environment and Climate Change Canada uses to establish recovery feasibility, there are some unknowns regarding the feasibility of recovery of the Pallid Bat in British Columbia. However, recovery is deemed feasible and this recovery strategy addresses the unknowns surrounding the feasibility of recovery.

1. Individuals of the wildlife species that are capable of reproduction are available now or in the foreseeable future to sustain the population or improve its abundance.
Yes. The Canadian population of Pallid Bats includes animals capable of reproduction. Reproductive females, sexually mature males, and juveniles have been captured.
2. Sufficient suitable habitat is available to support the species or could be made available through habitat management or restoration.
Yes. It is believed that sufficient suitable roosting and foraging habitat exists at currently occupied sites. A substantial amount of foraging habitat has been lost to agricultural and urban conversion and loss and degradation of habitat is still occurring. Although the species is known to use human-modified habitats such as agricultural fields (e.g., pastures, vineyards, and fruit orchards), it uses these modified habitats significantly less than native foraging habitats (i.e., grassland, shrub–steppe, and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) habitats). In addition to retaining currently available habitat, it is possible that suitable foraging habitat could be created or restored through habitat restoration.
3. The primary threats to the species or its habitat (including threats outside Canada) can be avoided or mitigated.
Unknown. The primary threats to the species are White-nose Syndrome (WNS), which is anticipated to be detected in B.C. within the next 5 years, habitat loss and disturbance due to development, and disturbance due to recreational activities. The recent detection of WNS on the west coast of the United States indicates that WNS will arrive and/or be detected in B.C. within the next few years. Bat-to-bat transmission of the fungus can not be easily managed; however, inadvertent spread through human vectors can be avoided or mitigated. Techniques do not yet exist to minimize or mitigate the effects of this disease on bats but intensive research is ongoing and treatment/mitigation measures may be available in the near future. Populations may also develop natural immunity after the first wave of disease spread and could potential recover naturally from the decline as long as suitable high-quality habitat remains available and other non-disease threats are minimized. Habitat loss and disturbance can be at least partially avoided or mitigated through habitat protection, habitat management, restoration, and voluntary stewardship programs. Other activities such as grazing, mining, fire suppression, predation from domestic cats and the effects of pollution may affect the species but the impact of these threats is currently unknown. Research is required to better understand these threats and to develop mitigation strategies where necessary.
4. Recovery techniques exist to achieve the population and distribution objectives or can be expected to be developed within a reasonable timeframe.
Yes. Habitat protection, habitat rehabilitation, and habitat management are recovery techniques that can be used to achieve the population and distribution objectives. Habitat protection options include creation of wildlife management areas, provincial parks, and protected areas; acquisition; creation of wildlife habitat areas if the species is included in the Identified Wildlife Management Strategy (Province of British Columbia 2004); and designation of critical habitat under the SARA. Habitat management and restoration through voluntary stewardship by landowners will be essential to meeting objectives. Research on the ecology of the species and habitat use are essential to setting restoration targets for the species.

1 COSEWICi Species assessment information

Date of assessment:
November 2010
Common name (population):
Pallid Bat
Scientific name:
Antrozous pallidus
COSEWIC status:
Threatened
Reason for designation:
This relatively large but rare bat is restricted to the semi-arid shrub-steppe of the southern Okanagan Valley, BC at the northern limit of its global distribution. Although the number of known individuals has increased since the last assessment, this can be attributed to increased survey effort and the enhanced knowledge of roost sites. Nevertheless, the population is still thought to be small (fewer than 1000 individuals), cliffs available for roosting are very limited and foraging habitat is in continuing decline.
Criteria applied: ii
D1. The population is estimated to have < 1000 mature individuals.
Canadian occurrence:
British Columbia.
COSEWIC status history:
Designated Special Concern in April 1988. Status re-examined and designated Threatened in May 2000. Status re-examined and confirmed in November 2010.

i Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada.

ii See COSEWIC quantitative criteria and guidelines for the status assessment of wildlife species (Table 2 of the COSEWIC assessment process guidelines).

2 Species status information

Pallid Batiii

Legal designation

  • B.C. list: Red
  • B.C. rank: S2 (2015)
  • National rank: N2 (2011)
  • Global rank:viii G4 (2015)
  • Other subnational ranks:viii
    • Arizona: S4; California: S3; Colorado: S4; Idaho: S3; Kansas: S1; Montana: S2; Navajo Nation: S5; Nevada: S3; New Mexico: S4S5; Oklahoma: S3; Oregon: S2; Texas: S5; Utah: S4; Washington: S2S3; Wyoming: S1
Goal 1: Contribute to global efforts for species and ecosystem conservation.
Priority: x 6 (2009)
Goal 2: Prevent species and ecosystems from becoming at risk.
Priority: 6 (2009)
Goal 3: Maintain the diversity of native species and ecosystems.
Priority: 2 (2009)
CF Action groups: ix
Compile Status Report; List under Wildlife Act; Send to COSEWIC; Planning; Habitat Protection; Habitat Restoration; Private Land Stewardship; Species and Population Management

iii Data source: B.C. Conservation Data Centre (2015) unless otherwise noted.

iv No = not listed in one of the categories of wildlife that requires special management attention to address the impacts of forest and range activities on Crown land under the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA; Province of British Columbia 2002) and/or the impacts of oil and gas activities on Crown land under the Oil and Gas Activities Act (OGAA; Province of British Columbia 2008).

v Schedule A = designated as wildlife under the B.C. Wildlife Act, which offers it protection from direct persecution and mortality (Province of British Columbia 1982).

vi Schedule 1 = found on the List of Wildlife Species at Risk under the Species at Risk Act (SARA; Government of Canada 2002).

vii Red: Includes any indigenous species or subspecies that have, or are candidates for, Extirpated, Endangered, or Threatened status in British Columbia. .S = subnational; N = national; G = global; T = refers to the subspecies level; B = breeding; X = presumed extirpated; H = possibly extirpated; 1 = critically imperiled; 2 = imperiled; 3 = special concern, vulnerable to extirpation or extinction; 4 = apparently secure; 5 = demonstrably widespread, abundant, and secure; NA = not applicable; NR = unranked; U = unrankable.

viii Data source: NatureServe (2015).

ix Data source: B.C. Ministry of Environment (2009).

x Six-level scale: Priority 1 (highest priority) through to Priority 6 (lowest priority).

3 Species information

3.1 Species description

The Pallid Bat(Antrozous pallidus) is a relatively large bat (102–135 mm body length) with long, prominent ears and large eyes (see cover photo). The ears have a series of horizontal pleats that allow Pallid Bats to furl their ears. The dorsal fur is usually cream-coloured with light grey or light brown tips, ventral fur is ivory or white, and wing membranes are grey or pinkish brown. It has scroll-shaped nostrils and small glands on its muzzle that secrete a musky, skunk-like scent (Nagorsen and Brigham 1993).

3.2 Populations and distribution

The Pallid Bat inhabits hot, arid regions across western North America (Figure 1), from southern British Columbia to central Mexico with an isolated population in Cuba (Orr and Silva Taboada 1960; Silva Taboada 1976). Less than 1% of the Pallid Bat's known global distribution is in Canada.

Figure 1. Global distribution of Pallid Bat, excluding an isolated population in Cuba (Pallid Bat Recovery Team 2008).
Image of map (see long description below)
Long description for Figure 1

The Pallid Bat distribution is shown as a mostly continuous expanse US covering a swath from around Mexico City, Mexico, northwards to the south of British Columbia. It covers the majority of the west coast of the US, and northern Mexico including the Baja Peninsula. The eastern limits are in Kansas and Oklahoma and central Texas.

In Canada, Pallid Bat is known only from the semi-arid shrub–steppe of the southern Okanagan Valley, south of Penticton, in south-central British Columbia at elevations lower than 800 m (Figure 2). The species is difficult to detect using standard bat inventory techniques such as netting and acoustic surveys (B.C. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks 1998). The species is rarely captured, likely because of their small population size. Identification through acoustic surveys is difficult because they limit their use of echolocation for foraging; instead, they listen for sounds their prey makes before landing to capture the prey item (Bell 1982; Fuzessery et al. 1993). In addition, their calls are similar to two species with overlapping ranges (Silver-haired Bat [Lasionycteris noctivagans] and Big Brown Bat [Eptesicus fuscus]), which makes them difficult to identify with certainty even when echolocation calls are detected.

The Canadian population is currently estimated at 250–1000 individuals by COSEWIC (2010). COSEWIC (2010) stated this estimate reflected Rambaldini's (2006) statement that "at least" 250 Pallid Bats reside in the Okanagan Valley based on roost surveys; however, this number was considered an underestimate by both Rambaldini and COSEWIC because other areas known to be occupied by Pallid Bat were not surveyed by Rambaldini (2006).

The capture of sexually mature males and lactating females (Schowalter 1980; Grindal et al. 1991; Chapman et al. 1994; Willis and Bast 2000; Rambaldini 2005; Rambaldini 2006; Sarell 2007) confirms that individuals capable of reproduction are present in the population. The capture of individuals with worn teeth suggests that these individuals are not dispersing juveniles or yearlings from the United States (Willis and Bast 2000). The majority (85/98, 87%) of captures with suitable data in British Columbia have been of males, with 13 females forming about 13% of captures. In some areas, males and females may be sexually segregated in summer (O'Shea and Vaughan 1977; Hermanson and O'Shea 1983; Lewis 1994), which could make field-based estimates of sex ratio unreliable (Hermanson and O'Shea 1983). The capture of reproductive males and females in the same area (e.g., Collard et al. 1990; Rambaldini 2006; Sarell 2007) suggests that this may not be the case in British Columbia. It is unknown whether the apparent male bias in the provincial sex ratio is related to sampling bias or is reflective of a population with few females, which has implications for the reproductive capacity of the population.

Population and distribution trends are not known, but the species may be declining concomitant with a loss of antelope-brush (Purshia tridentata; Lea 2008; Iverson 2012), big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata; B.C. Conservation Data Centre 2016), and open grassland habitats, which have been identified as important foraging habitat in Canada (Chapman et al. 1994; Rambaldini and Brigham 2011). While most Pallid Bat records are known from a First Nation's lands in the Osoyoos area, Pallid Bats have also been captured on conservation (e.g., Sage and Sparrow Conservation Area owned by the Nature Conservancy of Canada). and private lands south of Penticton (B.C. Conservation Data Centre 2015).

Figure 2. Estimated Pallid Bat distribution (solid orange) in British Columbia created by buffering capture records by 4.5 km, and then clipping the areas to Bunchgrass and Ponderosa Pine biogeoclimatic subzones (BGxh1 and PPxh1). The potential range (checkered orange and grey) is created using the same methodology but includes visual and acoustic records that have not been verified by capture data. The potential range highlight areas for more intensive surveys but these areas are not included in the area of occupancy and other range/occupied area estimations.
Image of map (see long description below)
Long description for Figure 2

The estimated range of distribution for the Pallid Bat extends from Osyoyoos, a small southern town in the Okanagan Valley of British Colombia, up to Kaleden, a small village located by the border of Skaha Lake. The area of estimated range is about 10 km wide and mostly continuous going from Osyoyoos to Kaleden. The largest area of potential range surrounds a lake south of Penticton in an arc between 2 and 5 Km wide. 4 small discontinuous regions of potential habitat also occur in the valley, all south of Oliver and north of Osyoyoos. 

3.3 Habitat and biological needs of the Pallid Bat

Throughout their range, Pallid Bats are generally found in low-elevation (< 1830 m) hot, dry, shrub–steppe or open forest habitats, especially those characterized by rocky outcrops, canyon landscapes, and rugged terrain (Orr 1954; Hermanson and O'Shea 1983). All confirmed provincial records are from the very hot and dry Bunchgrass and Ponderosa Pine biogeoclimatic subzones (BGxh1 and PPxh1) south of Penticton, B.C., generally below an elevation of 800 m (Grindal et al. 1991; Nagorsen and Brigham 1993; Chapman et al. 1994; Willis and Bast 2000; Rambaldini 2006; Sarell 2007). Within these areas, Pallid Bats use a variety of habitats for roosting (day, night, and hibernation) and foraging (Table 1).

Table 1. Summary of essential functions, features, and attributes of Pallid Bat habitat in British Columbia.
Life stage(s) supported Functiona Feature (s)b Attributesc
All life history stages Day roosting, summer Naturally occurring rock crevices within cliff faces, talus slopes, stone piles, and boulders in grassland areas. Elsewhere use crevices and cavities in trees, snags, buildings, caves, and mines
  • Used April to October, inclusive
  • Warm, generally stable temperature
  • Areas used by female/juvenile groups may not overlap geographically with males
  • Insufficient information to indicate differences between roosts used by males, females
  • Typically located near (~ <4.5 km) foraging areas
  • May require proximity to drinking water
All life history stages Night roosting, summer Day roost sites, other rock crevices, small caves, tree cavities (e.g., ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), deciduous trees in riparian areas, and fruit trees in orchards), bridges, carports, and decks; elsewhere also use buildings and mines
  • Used April to October, inclusive
  • Males, females, and volant (able to fly) juveniles use roosts together
  • Typically located near day roost areas
  • Typically located near foraging areas and may require proximity to water
All life history stages Hibernation Features used in the province are not yet described; presumed similar to day roost sites based on literature. Elsewhere use rock crevices, mines, caves, and buildings
  • Used likely October or November through to April, inclusive
  • Elsewhere use sites where relative humidity remains high and temperature does not drop below freezing in winter
Adult bats, and juveniles able to fly Foraging

Areas with diverse and abundant prey that are open (little vegetation) to allow Pallid Bats to land to capture prey are preferred; will opportunistically use areas that are open but with less diverse and abundant prey

Preferentially: natural grassland, shrub–steppe, or open forest

Opportunistically: open habitats, including modified habitats that support prey at lower amounts than preferred habitat

  • Used April to October, inclusive
  • Forage in open areas that support prey (large arthropods, small vertebrates)
  • In proximity to day roosts
  • Preferentially: natural grasslands, shrub–steppe habitat, or open forest (ponderosa pine)
  • Opportunistically: modified habitats, including ranch pastures, vineyards, and fruit orchards; talus slopes; and/or gravel roads

a Function: Is a life-cycle process of the species.

b Feature: Features are the essential structural components of the habitat required by the species.

c Attribute: The building blocks or measurable characteristics of a feature.

There are limited data on movements of Pallid Bat. The data available indicate that summer roosting and foraging habitat used by the species are usually within a few kilometres of each other. Foraging range may vary by sex and reproductive status (Baker et al. 2008). In British Columbia, Rambaldini and Brigham (2004) tracked seven bats from the same day roost, and found that most foraged within 1 km of their day roost, although one bat travelled almost 18 km from its roost. Rambaldini (2006) similarly reported that seven bats (six males and one female) captured at the same night roost foraged within 1.5 km of their day roosts. Chapman et al. (1994) tracked three bats from two roosts for a total of eight nights (roost 1: one bat tracked for one night; roost 2: one tracked for two nights, another tracked for five nights). For these bats the maximum movement per night between roost and foraging areas, calculated as distance moved along elevational contours and not by using straight-line distance, averaged 1740 m (range 309–4288m; Dyer, pers. comm., 2016). Research outside the province suggests a foraging range of 3–4.5 km (Bell 1982; Lewis 1996; Baker et al. 2008), with some longer-range movements of 6.7–30 km recorded (Davis 1966; Brown et al. 1997; Baker et al. 2008). It is likely that Pallid Bat foraging distances depend on the quality and configuration of surrounding habitat. The mostly shorter-range movements of this species suggests that the spatial arrangement of different required habitat types may be an important determinant of overall habitat suitability, and that the species might be negatively affected by habitat changes that require it to regularly fly further afield to forage.

3.3.1 Roosting habitat

Roosting habitat for Pallid Bat consists of day roosts (including maternity roosts), night roosts, and hibernacula.

Day and night roosts are occupied from early spring to late fall (i.e., April to October, inclusive). Males and females may share roosts until parturition, at which point mature males leave the maternity roost to roost elsewhere (review in Gervais 2016). Parturition (the process of giving birth) is believed to occur in a maternity roost (a type of day roost) in July (Nagorsen and Brigham 1993). Yearling Pallid Bats do breed, at least in their more southern range, but produce only one young, whereas older females produce twins (Grinnell 1918; Hall 1946; Orr 1954; Hermanson and O'Shea 1983; Sidner 1997). In parts of their range outside Canada, hibernacula are occupied throughout winter. Exact dates of occupancy vary across the range and between years, depending on climate. Hibernation dates in British Columbia likely range from late October to late April, similar to other bat species in the province. Elsewhere, Pallid Bats mate in the hibernacula (Orr 1954; Hermanson and O'Shea 1983) or other roosts (e.g., swarming sites; Fenton 1969; Parsons et al. 2003) between October and February.

Summer day roosts

In summer, males and females roost gregariously; adult females and juvenile males and females roost together in maternity groups, and adult males usually roost separately (Vaughn and O'Shea 1976; Lewis 1996). In some areas, male and female ranges do not overlap, which can bias apparent sex ratios (Hermanson and O'Shea 1983; Lewis 1994). The largest known grouping at a day roost in the province is of adult and yearling males, where up to 130 individuals have been recorded (Rambaldini 2006; Sarell 2007; Rambaldini and Brigham 2011). Much of the information on provincial roosting sites is from males, which reflects the skewed sex ratio of captures to date. Males use rock crevices in cliff faces (Chapman et al. 1994; Rambaldini 2006; Sarell 2007) with warm, stable temperatures (daytime mean ranging from 23–30°C; Rambaldini 2005). One adult male was also found roosting under a pile of stones in a sand pit (Racey 1933). Schorr and Siemers (2013) reported that 53 day roosts used by 10 radiotracked males in Colorado used crevices 9-1500 cm long, 3-25 cm wide, and an average of 46 cm deep (the depth could be measured only for 5 roosts). Little information is available about maternity roosts in the province. Rambaldini (2006) tracked one lactating female and reported she used a rock crevice that was occupied by males in previous years. The radio-tracked female and three males all roosted in the same cliff face but in different crevices. Sarell (2007) also reported that a radio-tracked female used a maternity roost in a cliff. Elsewhere, Vaughn and O'Shea (1976) reported that groupings of females and young in Arizona preferred horizontal crevices with chambers at least 30 cm wide, 12 cm high, and 60 cm deep. Miller and Jensen (2013) reported that crevices used by males and females in Kansas and Oklahoma were 3-20 cm wide. In Oregon, Lewis (1996) reported that females and young roosted in crevices when ambient temperature was warmer than average, and slabs when ambient temperature was cooler than average. Other daytime roosts reported for female Pallid Bats include cavities in large ponderosa pine live trees and snags (Arizona: Rabe et al. 1998; California: Baker et al. 2008), buildings (Orr 1954; Baker et al. 2008), rock crevices (Vaughan and O'Shea 1976), crevices in mines (Arizona: Sidner 197), and bridges (Arizona: Sidner 1997).

Pallid Bats show high fidelity to roosting areas but data indicate they frequently switch among several regularly used roost sites. Rambaldini and Brigham (2008) reported that males switched day roosts in British Columbia an average of every 4 days (range: 1–13 days). Females also switch roosts in the province: Rambaldini (2006) reported that a radio-tracked, lactating female switched roosts at least three times between 10 August and 4 September. Elsewhere, Lewis (1996) reported that females in Oregon switched roosts every 1.4 days on average, and that the rate of roost switching was similar among pregnant and lactating bats. However, Sidner (1997) reported that female Pallid bats studied in Arizona showed strong site fidelity to their roosts and did not move frequently between roosts. Some roosts, such as those habitually used by large aggregations (i.e., 20-100+ individuals), are occupied in consecutive years (Rambaldini and Brigham 2004; Rambaldini 2006; Rambaldini and Brigham 2008, Rambaldini and Brigham 2011).

Although Pallid Bat exhibits adaptations to a desert environment, such as the ability to concentrate urine and the ability to withstand dehydration (review in Hermanson and O'Shea 1983), proximity of the roost to a source of fresh drinking water may be important (Orr 1954; Hermanson and O'Shea 1983). In California, roosts were typically less than 600 m from water (Baker et al. 2008); in Colorado roosts were less than 820 m from the nearest water (Schorr and Siemers 2013); and in Kansas and Oklahoma, most were within 50 m of a water source (Miller and Jensen 2013). Additional research on the importance of drinking water to Pallid Bat is required.

Summer night roosts

Night roosts are typically close to day roost sites and foraging areas (Rambaldini 2006; Sarell 2007). Night roosts are used by bats to rest and consume prey. Lewis (1994) proposed that night roosts used by Pallid Bats may also serve a social function, based on her observations of bats flying directly to a night roost from a day roost, the arrival of bats at the night roost without prey, and the arrival of bats in groups. Rambaldini (2006) reported that, at a cave night roost in British Columbia, males, females, and juveniles roosted together. Pallid Bats show fidelity to specific night roosts within and between years (Lewis 1994; Rambaldini 2006; Sarell 2007).

In British Columbia, night roost structures may include day roost locations, as well as other rock crevices, small caves, trees (e.g., ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir, deciduous trees in riparian areas, and fruit trees in orchards), bridges (Chapman et al. 1994; Rambaldini and Brigham 2004; Rambaldini 2006), and carports and decks (Sarell, pers. comm., 2015). Elsewhere, Pallid Bats also use buildings (Lewis 1994).

Hibernacula

To date, no hibernacula for Pallid Bat have been located in Canada, but recent recordings of Pallid Bat echolocation calls in early December 2015 at one location (confirmed by C. Corben and C. Lausen; T. Luszcz, pers. comm., 2016) indicate that individuals are present in winter; therefore, local hibernation is highly probable. At more southerly latitudes, Pallid Bats hibernate within deep narrow crevices inside caverns, caves, abandoned mines, and buildings where relative humidity remains high and temperature does not drop below freezing throughout the winter (Hall 1946; review in Orr 1954; Twente 1955a, 1955b; Johnston 2004).

3.3.2 Foraging habitat

Pallid Bats in Canada forage over open native habitat (i.e., grassland, shrub–steppe, and ponderosa pine habitats), modified habitats (e.g., ranch pastures, vineyards, and fruit orchards; and gravel roads), and talus slopes (Chapman et al. 1994; Rambaldini and Brigham 2011).

Rambaldini and Brigham (2011) reported that Pallid Bat foraging activity in the province was significantly higher over native shrub–steppe habitat, which was dominated by antelope-brush, big sagebrush, gray rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa var. nauseosa), open ponderosa pine, and bunchgrasses, than over vineyards. The authors suggested the use of vineyards was primarily opportunistic (i.e., foraging while flying over the habitat enroute to other foraging habitats), and that the large areas of open ground in vineyards may provide a suitable location to land and catch prey (Rambaldini and Brigham 2011). Although the vineyard habitat provided suitable areas of open habitat, Rambaldini and Brigham (2011) found that prey quality was significantly lower in vineyards than in native habitat. The insect population was less diverse and individual insects in vineyards tended to be smaller than in native habitat. In addition, Jerusalem crickets (Stenopelmatus fuscus), which are an important food source for Pallid Bats (Ross 1961; Ball 1998 cited in Rambaldini and Brigham 2011; Johnston and Fenton 2001), were found only in the native habitat (Rambaldini and Brigham 2011).

Pallid Bats feed on a variety of large arthropods (Ross 1961; O'Shea and Vaughan 1977; Hermanson and O'Shea 1983; Johnston and Fenton 2001), occasionally taking small vertebrates (O'Shea and Vaughan 1977; Bell 1982). The most common foraging strategy for Pallid Bat involves listening for prey (usually terrestrial) rather than using echolocation, and then gleaning larger prey items from the ground (Bell 1982; Johnston and Fenton 2001) and consuming them later, either in flight or at a night roost (O'Shea and Vaughan 1977; Bell 1982; Fuzessery et al. 1993). As a result of this foraging strategy, Pallid Bats often forage in open areas where it is easier to land and to hear prey (Huey 1936; Bell 1982; Chapman et al. 1994; Ball 2002). Pallid Bats will also catch smaller prey items on the wing (Johnston and Fenton 2001), and will glean insects from vegetation (O'Shea and Vaughan 1977; Gervais 2016). Based on an analysis of fecal pellets from bats in the province, Grindal et al. (1991) reported that beetles were the most common prey item for Pallid Bat (present in 70% of the 29 pellets examined), followed by moths (28%) and neuropterans (7%). Rambaldini and Brigham (2011), in a study of 93 fecal pellets from bats in British Columbia, reported that approximately 70% of the prey taken by Pallid Bats in the Okanagan was scarab beetles; Jerusalem crickets were the second-most consumed prey item (12%). Rambaldini and Brigham (2011) also reported that Jerusalem crickets were the dominant food item (35.5% of prey eaten) present in 39 fecal pellets from Pallid Bats in Washington State.

3.4 Ecological role

The Pallid Bat's ecological role is not well known. It provides ecosystem services as a predator of large arthropods, including several that are considered crop pests. The value of these types of services can be significant (Kunz et al. 2011). In Canada, diet studies indicate that Pallid Bats eat ten-lined June beetle (Polyphylla decemlineata), California root borer (Prionus californicus), scarab beetles (Phyllophaga spp.) and other Coleoptera; moths (Lepidoptera); crickets (Orthoptera), including Jerusalem cricket; and Neuropterans (Grindal et al. 1991; Rambaldini and Brigham 2011). A study of the Big Brown Bat, which also eats a diet comprised largely of beetles such as cucumber beetles, beetles, leafhoppers, and stinkbugs, predicted that a colony of 150 bats would consume approximately 1.28 million of these insects annually and prevent the production of 33 million cucumber beetle larvae, which is a crop pest (Whitaker 1995). The Pallid Bat's foraging strategy, which includes landing on the ground to capture prey, can make it vulnerable to capture by owls, snakes, and domestic cats (review in Hermanson and O'Shea 1983). Because of the Pallid Bat's small population size and limited distribution in Canada, its impact on food webs is likely localized.

3.5 Limiting factors

Limiting factors are generally not human-induced and include characteristics that make the species less likely to respond to recovery/conservation efforts (e.g., small population size, few females known to occur in the population, and limited availability of habitat).

Pallid Bat in British Columbia is at the extreme northern extent of its global distribution, is dependent on a habitat type rare north of the 49th parallel, and has a preference for dry, hot climates. Suitable habitat for Pallid Bat is thus naturally limiting for this species in Canada, and recent loss of foraging habitat related to agricultural and urban conversion has exacerbated this problem. The small population size (estimated at < 1000 individuals) and apparently low numbers of females in the province will limit population growth and persistence. The full suite of biologically limiting factors for Pallid Bat in the province is not well known.

4 Threats

Threats are defined as the proximate activities or processes that have caused, are causing, or may cause in the future the destruction, degradation, and/or impairment of the entity being assessed (population, species, community, or ecosystem) in the area of interest (global, national, or subnational) (adapted from Salafsky et al. 2008). For purposes of threat assessment, only present and future threats are considered.Footnote8 Threats presented here do not include limiting factors,Footnote9 which are presented in Section 3.5.

4.1 Threat assessment

The threat classification below is based on the IUCN–CMP (World Conservation Union–Conservation Measures Partnership) unified threats classification system and is consistent with methods used by the B.C. Conservation Data Centre. For a detailed description of the threat classification system, see the Open Standards website (Open Standards 2014). Threats may be observed, inferred, or projected to occur in the near term. Threats are characterized here in terms of scope, severity, and timing. Threat "impact" is calculated from scope and severity. For information on how the values are assigned, see Master et al. (2012) and table footnotes for details. Threats for the Pallid Bat were assessed for the entire province, and were based on a three-generation time frame of 15 years (Table 2).

Table 2. Threat classification table for Pallid Bat in British Columbia.
Threat #d Threat description Impacte Scopef Severityg Timingh
1 Residential & commercial development Low Small Extreme–Serious High
1.1   Housing & urban areas Low Small Serious High
1.2   Commercial & industrial Negligible Negligible Extreme–Serious High
1.3   Tourism & recreation areas Negligible Negligible Serious High
2 Agriculture & aquaculture Low Small Serious High
2.1   Annual & perennial non-timber crops Low Small Serious High
2.3   Livestock farming & ranching Unknown Pervasive Unknown High
3 Energy production & mining Medium–Low Restricted–Small Serious–Moderate High
3.2   Mining & quarrying Medium–Low Restricted–Small Serious–Moderate High
4 Transportation & service corridors Medium–Low Pervasive Moderate–Slight High
4.1   Roads & railroads Medium–Low Pervasive Moderate–Slight High
6 Human intrusions & disturbance Low Small Slight High
6.1   Recreational activities Low Small Slight High
6.3   Work & Other Activities Negligible Small Negligible High
7 Natural system modifications Unknown Small Unknown High
7.1   Fire & fire suppression Unknown Small Unknown High
8 Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases Very High Pervasive Extreme Moderate
8.1   Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases Very High Pervasive Extreme Moderate
9 Pollution Unknown Restricted–Small Unknown High
9.3   Agricultural & forestry effluents Unknown Restricted–Small Unknown High

d Threat numbers are provided for Level 1 threats (i.e., whole numbers) and Level 2 threats (i.e., numbers with decimals).

e Impact – The degree to which a species is observed, inferred, or suspected to be directly or indirectly threatened in the area of interest. The impact of each threat is based on severity and scope rating and considers only present and future threats. Threat impact reflects a reduction of a species population. The median rate of population reduction for each combination of scope and severity corresponds to the following classes of threat impact: Very High (75%), High (40%), Medium (15%), and Low (3%). Unknown: used when impact cannot be determined (e.g., if values for either scope or severity are unknown); Not Calculated: impact not calculated as threat is outside the assessment time (e.g., timing is insignificant/negligible [past threat] or low [possible threat in long term]); Negligible: when scope or severity is negligible; Not a Threat: when severity is scored as neutral or potential benefit.

f Scope – Proportion of the species that can reasonably be expected to be affected by the threat within 10 years. The Scope for this species was extended to a three-generation time frame to include longer-term threats that need to be addressed within this recovery planning window. Usually measured as a proportion of the species' population in the area of interest. (Pervasive = 71–100%; Large = 31–70%; Restricted = 11–30%; Small = 1–10%; Negligible < 1%).

g Severity – Within the scope, the level of damage to the species from the threat that can reasonably be expected to be affected by the threat within a 10-year or three-generation time frame. For this species, a generation time of 5 years was used, resulting in severity being scored over a 15 year time frame. Usually measured as the degree of reduction of the species' population. (Extreme = 71–100%; Serious = 31–70%; Moderate = 11–30%; Slight = 1–10%; Negligible < 1%; Neutral or Potential Benefit ≥ 0%).

h Timing – High = continuing; Moderate = only in the future (could happen in the short term [< 10 years or three generations]) or now suspended (could come back in the short term); Low = only in the future (could happen in the long term) or now suspended (could come back in the long term); Insignificant/Negligible = only in the past and unlikely to return, or no direct effect but limiting.

4.2 Description of threats

The overall province-wide Threat Impact for this species is Very High.Footnote10 This ranking considers the cumulative impacts of multiple threats led by disease, development resulting in habitat loss and habitat fragmentation, and human disturbance. The most serious threat to Pallid Bat is white-nose syndrome (Threat #8.1). Although this disease has not yet been discovered in British Columbia, its discovery in Washington State in March 2016 indicates that, if it is not yet in the province, it will likely be detected within the period included in this Threat Assessment.Footnote11 Other important threats are related to habitat loss or degradation from development, including road-related construction and road-widening activities (Threats #1.1, #2.1, and #4.1). Details are discussed below under the Threat Level 1 headings.

Because suitable habitat limits the potential expansion of Pallid Bat populations, fragmentation of existing habitat is a persistent threat. Behavioural studies indicate that Pallid Bats select sites where the distance between roosting and foraging habitat is ~ < 4.5 km. Fragmentation of native grasslands (preferred foraging habitat) increases this distance and reduces habitat suitability, particularly for females with dependent young.

Pallid Bats are reported to be sensitive to human disturbance (O'Shea and Vaughan 1977; Chapman et al. 1994), and will change or abandon roost sites even with indirect disturbance (e.g., movement within a few metres of a night roost; Chapman et al. 1994). Given the increasing human population in their only known Canadian range (see "1.1 Housing & urban areas" below), disturbance rates are likely increasing and may threaten the viability of otherwise suitable Pallid Bat habitat.

Little information is available on generation time of Pallid Bats (Hermanson and O'Shea 1983). Yearling Pallid Bats do breed, at least in their more southern range, but produce only one young, whereas older females may produce twins (Hermanson and O'Shea 1983, Sidner 1997). Data on longevity of Pallid Bat in the wild are limited; Cockrum (1973) reported that the minimum age of a banded Pallid Bat was 9 years. Sidner (1997) reported a male Pallid Bat that was 10 years old and a female that was at least 11 years old. Pallid Bats in captivity are known to live 8 years (Orr 1958) and 9 years (Brown et al. 1978), with a maximum longevity record in captivity of 14.8 years (Weigl 2005). For Myotis lucifugus and M. septentrionalis, which are insectivorous, hibernating bats (which likely is associated with longer lifespans; Wilkinson and South 2002), and for which more information is available about lifespan and population demography, COSEWIC (2013) estimated generation time as 5–10 years. Based on the available information, a generation time of 5 years was used for Pallid Bat, which resulted in the scoring of this Threat Assessment over a 15-year time frame.

Threat 1. Residential & commercial development
1.1 Housing & urban areas

Foraging and roosting habitat quality may be degraded or permanently destroyed by residential development in native shrub–steppe habitat. Urban development is an important cause of reduction of foraging habitat for Pallid Bat. Over 67% of the antelope-brush/needle-and-thread grass ecosystem, an important foraging habitat for Pallid Bat (Rambaldini and Brigham 2011), has been lost since 1800, and the ecosystem is projected to continue this decline until the community is extirpated in all but protected sites (Iverson 2012). Seventeen percent of the remaining antelope-brush/needle-and-thread grass ecosystem was protected as of 2012 (Iverson 2012). None of the remaining habitat was considered to have "excellent" ecological integrity, although 54% of the remaining habitat was considered to have "good" ecological integrity (Iverson 2012). The big sagebrush shrub–steppe ecosystem has also declined significantly, with 33% of the ecosystem lost since 1800 (Lea 2008). This ecosystem is also projected to continue its decline (B.C. Conservation Data Centre 2016). Native grassland habitat is the best-quality foraging habitat for Pallid Bats (Rambaldini and Brigham 2011), and its conversion will fragment remaining habitat, having a negative effect on individuals because they will need to spend more time foraging or travel further to access suitable foraging habitat.

Although the cliff habitat used by Pallid Bats for roosting is unlikely to be directly affected by urban development, talus roosting habitat and night roosts in trees could be removed during development. In addition, the apparent sensitivity of Pallid Bats to disturbance (Orr 1954; Beck and Rudd 1960; Chapman et al. 1994; O'Shea and Vaughan 1999) could cause them to move or abandon their roost because of nearby activity.

The threat of converting native habitat into residential housing is ongoing, although currently it likely occurs at lower levels than in the past. Therefore, the severity will be Serious where it occurs, but the proportion of the population affected by development in future will be small.

1.2 Commercial & industrial areas

Similar to the threat posed by "Housing & urban areas," increasing human population within the Pallid Bat's range will likely result in continued commercial development. The severity will be Extreme to Serious for the local population where commercial development occurs, as it will degrade or remove foraging or roosting habitat, and involve associated disturbance; however, the proportion of the population that will be affected is anticipated to be Negligible.

1.3 Tourism & recreation areas

Similar to the threat posed by "Housing & urban areas," tourism and recreation development of Pallid Bat habitats will disturb bats at roost sites, and/or degrade or destroy both foraging and roosting habitat (depending on the type of development). Developments such as golf courses or activities such as off-road vehicle use in native shrub–steppe habitat will degrade or destroy foraging habitat; developments such as rock-climbing recreational areas could disturb bats and alter the suitability of a Pallid Bat roosting area. Where recreation and tourism development alters roosting or foraging habitat, the effect would be serious; however, the proportion of the population that will be affected is anticipated to be Negligible. As tourism and recreation increases in the south Okanagan, the impact of this threat may increase.

Threat 2. Agriculture & aquaculture
2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops

Historically, the greatest threat to the Pallid Bat was the conversion of native habitat to agricultural crops, primarily orchards and vineyards. The most important foraging habitat for Pallid Bat has declined significantly (see Threat 1.1 for information), and the remaining habitat is projected to continue to decline in abundance and suitability (Iverson 2012; B.C. Conservation Data Centre 2016). Pallid Bats forage in open areas where they can hear prey and land on the ground to capture them (Bell 1982). Although Pallid Bats forage over agricultural areas such as vineyards where cleared areas occur, the diversity, suitability, and abundance of prey is reduced compared to native habitat (Rambaldini and Brigham 2011). Conversion of native grasslands to areas with more homogeneous and dense vegetation, such as through development of fruit-growing operations, will fragment the remaining grassland habitat and reduce the availability of the highest-quality foraging habitat for the species. Although the rate of conversion may remain stable (Iverson 2012), the overall impact is increasing because of the decreasing availability of the highest-quality habitat. Continued fragmentation of the habitat will negatively affect the species by requiring that they increase their foraging effort to maintain their prey intake.

2.3 Livestock farming & ranching

Grazing is considered Pervasive in the antelope-brush/needle-and-thread grass ecosystem (Iverson 2012) and the big sagebrush ecosystem (B.C. Conservation Data Centre 2016), which is the preferred foraging habitat of Pallid Bat. Grazing affects the soil and plant communities (Jones 2000), which are related to invertebrate abundance and diversity (Selinger 2010; Bassett and Fraser 2015). Studies have not determined whether grazing affects the preferred prey species of Pallid Bat; therefore, the specific effect of grazing on Pallid Bat prey is Unknown and requires research. If grazing negatively affects the prey of Pallid Bat, grazing could further fragment the habitat for the species, requiring bats to travel further to forage. Associated effects of converting native habitat to agriculture, including removal of trees, could negatively affect the availability of night roost trees where large ponderosa pine snags or trees are removed.

Threat 3. Energy production & mining
3.2 Mining and quarrying

Mining and quarrying activities have the potential to disturb bats or degrade bat habitat in mines, cliff/talus crevices, or rock crevices/talus, all of which may be used by Pallid Bats (e.g., Hall 1946; Twente 1955a, 1955b; Hermanson and O'Shea 1983; Johnston 2004; Godwin-Shepard 2008, cited in Sarell et al. 2012; Willis and Bast 2008). Several historic non-operating mines occur within the Pallid Bat's range and mining activity and geologic exploration is still occurring in the area (Sookochoff 2015; B.C. Ministry of Energy and Mines 2016); therefore, activities in and around mines remain a threat to Pallid Bat habitat. Reopening or permanent closure of old mines could cause direct mortality of any bats present, change the microclimate characteristics or internal structure of the site, or prevent bats from entering, which would render the site ineffective as a Pallid Bat hibernaculum. Bat-sensitive mine closures, including bat-friendly gating, can maintain important habitat attributes for bats.

Quarrying of talus or other rock may also affect Pallid Bats and their habitat. Although the number of quarries within the range of the species may be small, where quarrying of talus or other rock associated with roosts or hibernacula occurs, it may cause direct destruction of important habitat attributes and kill bats if activity occurs when the roost is occupied. Pallid Bats may also be disturbed by noise and activity around their roost from exploration and mining activities, which could cause bats to move or abandon their roost (Orr 1954; Beck and Rudd 1960; Chapman et al. 1994; O'Shea and Vaughan 1999; Rambaldini and Brigham 2004).

Overall, the limited data on bat use of mines and habitats subject to these activities makes the scope of the threat Restricted–Small. Where these activities occur, the potential severity can be Serious–Moderate resulting in an overall impact on the population of Medium–Low. The largest effect will occur if an important habitat feature (e.g., hibernaculum) is destroyed, or if the activity occurs when the feature is occupied by bats. In other cases (e.g., activity in an area outside of the season of use with no damage to the feature; efforts taken to mitigate effects), the impact may be Low.

Threat 4. Transportation & service corridors
4.1 Roads & railroads

Pallid Bats forage low over the ground in open areas, and use tertiary roads as foraging corridors (Collard et al. 1990; Chapman et al. 1994), which may put them at greater risk of collision with motor vehicles than other bat species. The number of Pallid Bats killed by motor vehicles is unknown but is probably small because of the likely infrequent presence of vehicles on tertiary roads during periods when bats are active.

Development is a threat to Pallid Bat roosting and foraging habitat throughout its range. Urban and commercial development may be associated with road construction or enhancement of transportation corridors. Blasting or removal of cliff and/or rock areas during infrastructure work may remove roosts, causing loss of habitat. If the roost is occupied, these activities will cause direct mortality of individuals, and/or could cause abandonment of nearby roosts owing to disturbance (Orr 1954; Beck and Rudd 1960; Chapman et al. 1994; O'Shea and Vaughan 1999; Rambaldini and Brigham 2004). In addition, development or expansion of corridors in native grassland habitat will degrade or destroy important foraging habitat for the species. Bridges built within the range of Pallid Bat may provide suitable night-roosting habitat for the species.

Within the Pallid Bat's range, two proposed roadway developments may affect status and recovery. Highway 97 near Vaseux Lake, which is close to one of the known Pallid Bat roost sites, is slated to be widened within the next 15 years, but the project has not yet been defined (Persello, pers. comm., 2015). Plans for protection of habitat in the Vaseux Lake area may limit future highway development, reducing the overall effect on Pallid Bat habitat (J. Tillie, pers. comm., 2016). White Lake Road, which is identified as a potential highways improvement corridor (B.C. Ministry of Water, Land and Air Protection 2003) goes through important habitat for Pallid Bat, including White Lake Grasslands Protected Area.

Threat 6. Human intrusions & disturbance
6.1 Recreational activities

Tourism and recreation activities, such as rock-climbing and bouldering, have the potential to disturb Pallid Bats roosting in cliff crevices and talus. Pallid Bats appear sensitive to disturbance and may abandon or move roosts when disturbed (Beck and Rudd 1960; Davis 1969; Chapman et al. 1994; O'Shea and Vaughan 1999). Disturbance of Pallid Bats by rock climbers has not been documented; however, based on the bat's sensitivity to disturbance, it is a likely effect where climbing occurs in Pallid Bat habitat. Recreational climbing activity is most likely to occur from spring to fall; therefore, bats in summer day roosts in cliff or rock habitat are most likely to be disturbed by this recreational activity. The extent to which rock-climbing can destroy or change rock crevice roosts (e.g., changing opening structure, or causing slabs to break off) is unknown but is another possible effect of rock-climbing. Additional research to identify roost areas and determine overlap with climbing areas is required to better understand the scope of this threat. The Skaha Lake area has potential for significant overlap. The Skaha Bluffs area has been identified as providing high-quality summer daytime roost habitat for Pallid Bat (Robertson 1988; Sarell 2012), and is a popular rock-climbing area in the province (B.C. Parks 2015). Pallid Bat is suspected to occur in the Skaha Bluffs area but has not been confirmed to do so. Other climbing areas are being developed along the east side of Skaha Lake and in the vicinity of Okanagan Falls (T. Luszcz, pers. comm., 2016). Where these developments occur within the range of Pallid Bat they have the potential to affect Pallid Bat habitat. Because of the widespread level of human activity within the bat's range, disturbance at roost sites could be an important and growing threat.

Other types of recreational activities, such as the use of all-terrain vehicles, when it degrades or destroys native grassland, will reduce or remove foraging habitat for Pallid Bat. In some areas, all-terrain vehicles have severely damaged the native antelope-brush/needle-and-thread grass habitat (Iverson 2012). As high-quality native grassland becomes more restricted, even small incremental losses may have high localized impacts.

Recreational activity that disturbs bats has been assessed as having a Low impact based on its Small scope. Nevertheless, as overlap increases between recreation areas and Pallid Bat roosts (e.g., new recreation areas established in Pallid Bat roosting habitat, or additional roosts discovered in recreation areas) or foraging habitat (use of novel off-road areas), the threat impact may also increase.

6.3 Work & other activities

Research activity such as visiting roost sites and capture and tagging/tracking of individual bats has the potential to disturb bats and may affect survival rates (Barclay and Bell 1988; Sidner 1997). Researcher activity near roosts has been noted to disturb Pallid Bats (e.g., Chapman et al. 1994). Marking Pallid Bats with bands has the potential to affect the survivorship of bats and cause trauma to the banded area (Sidner 1997; Ellison 2008). Researchers entering winter roosts may disturb bats and affect survival rates (Speakman et al. 1991), and/or may spread the spores that cause white-nose syndrome unless appropriate decontamination protocols are followed. Researchers should be aware of their potential effects on bats, take steps to minimize impacts, and record instances of potential disturbance and their effect. Additional research is required to better understand the effects of human activity on Pallid Bat. All activities that involve research and capture of wildlife are subject to the restrictions in the BC Wildlife Act. Researchers who want to capture bats will need a Wildlife Act scientific research permit. These permits will not be issued if population level impacts greater than 1% are expected. Also, all researcher need to comply with the hygiene protocols while working in and around bat roosts or capturing bats. Due to these restrictions, this threat is scored as negligible.

Threat 7. Natural system modifications
7.1 Fire & fire suppression

The overall impact of fire suppression on Pallid Bat is Unknown. The antelope-brush and sagebrush habitats used by Pallid Bat for foraging are not fire-dependent, and fire effects in these habitats are both negative (loss of antelope-brush) and positive (removal of a competing alien invasive grass; Krannitz and Mottishaw 2003; Iverson 2012). Fire suppression has resulted in increased tree density in south Okanagan shrub–steppe habitats (Turner and Krannitz 2001; Gayton 2003). This results in less open habitat and may alter habitat use and behaviour of Pallid Bats, which forage primarily in open areas (Chapman et al. 1994; Rambaldini and Brigham 2011). Fire in ponderosa pine habitat may destroy large trees used for night roosting (Chapman et al. 1994). The potential rate of encroachment and changes in the rate due to climate change (e.g., Gayton 2013), and the overall effect of fire and fire suppression on Pallid Bat habitat requires additional research.

Threat 8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases
8.1 Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases

The overall threat impact for Threat 8 is based on the significant threat of white-nose syndrome. All other threats are cumulative to this threat.

Invasion of weeds into disturbed grassland habitat changes the plant composition and distribution of plants (Fleischner 1994), which might affect the ability of Pallid Bat to find prey, as well as the prey community that lives there. The spread of invasive species is identified as a significant threat to antelope-brush/needle-and-thread grass habitat (Iverson 2012), which is important foraging habitat for Pallid Bat (Rambaldini and Brigham 2011). The impact of this threat is currently Unknown.

Pallid Bats, which frequently forage on or near the ground, are vulnerable to predation by domestic cats (Robertson 1998 cited in Willis and Bast 2000). The number of Pallid Bats killed by cats is likely small; however, as urban development continues within Pallid Bat habitat, the impact of this source of mortality may increase. The impact of this threat is assessed as Low–Negligible.

Within this Threat Assessment period (2016–2031), white-nose syndrome is the most significant threat to Pallid Bat populations, with a projected Very High impact, based on a Pervasive scope, and Extreme severity. The timing is rated Moderate because this disease is not yet known to occur in the province but is expected to be discovered within 10 years. Since 2006, hibernating bats in eastern North America have been dying in high numbers (Blehert et al. 2009) from a cold-loving fungus, Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Minnis and Lindner 2013). The fungus is revealed by white fungal growth on the muzzles, ears, and/or wings of bats as hyphae invade these tissues (Blehert et al. 2009). White-nose syndrome is thought to disrupt important physiological functions and cause waking periods during hibernation, resulting in premature depletion of fat stores and in starvation of affected bats (Cryan et al. 2010).

White-nose syndrome was discovered in Canada in the winter of 2009–2010 and as of June 2016, its occurrence was confirmed in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. In the United States, this disease is confirmed in 29 states (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2016). In three additional states, the fungus has been detected on hibernating bats, but the disease is not yet present (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2016). The May 2016 discoveries in Washington State of a Little Brown Myotis (Myotis lucifugus) with the disease and a Silver-haired Bat that tested positive for the fungus that causes the disease, has accelerated the expected date of detection in British Columbia. To date, white-nose syndrome is estimated to have killed 5.7–6.7 million bats since its arrival in North America (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2016). Since its emergence, estimates suggest that affected bat populations in the northeastern United States have declined by 80% (Turner et al. 2011). As this disease spreads to new areas, it is assumed that each species of cave-hibernating bats in these areas will be at risk (Cryan et al. 2010). The susceptibility of Pallid Bat to white-nose syndrome is unknown because, until recently, the disease has not occurred within the Pallid Bat's range. Susceptibility to the disease may vary by bat species (e.g., Cryan et al. 2013) and by geography. In areas with shorter winters, or in areas where bats are able to forage mid-winter and replenish their fat stores, bats may not be as susceptible to white-nose Syndrome (Cryan et al. 2013). In British Columbia, Pallid Bat activity has been recorded mid-winter (C. Lausen, pers. comm., 2016), and winter groupings appear smaller than in the east, which means that fewer bats are exposed to the spores within a particular hibernaculum. Because of these factors, white-nose syndrome may spread more slowly in the province than in the east. If it is not susceptible to the disease, the Pallid Bat could still serve as a vector for spread of fungal spores when it shares hibernation sites with other species of bats.

In British Columbia, very few hibernacula have been found for any bat species, and none are known for Pallid Bat, so it will be difficult to observe and measure the arrival, distribution, and effects of white-nose syndrome.

Threat 9. Pollution
9.3 Agricultural & forestry effluents

Pesticide use in agriculture may affect Pallid Bats directly and indirectly; however, the overall impact is Unknown. Much of the Pallid Bat range in Canada is dominated by agricultural land use, managers of which often employ pesticides and other chemicals (Verrin et al. 2004) to facilitate crop production. The direct effect of pesticides on Pallid Bat is unclear as no records exist of Pallid Bat poisoning from pesticides. Bat mortality related to organochlorine insecticide exposure was documented in Gray Bats in the United States (Clark et al. 1978) and the chemical is still present in bat tissues years after their use ceased (review by O'Shea and Clark 2002). Currently-used insecticides such as pyrethroids and organophosphates have been detected in bat tissues and guano, but the effect of these chemicals on bats is not known (Eidels et al. 2007; review in Bayat et al. 2014). Although exposure to pesticides is less than in the past, current exposure levels may be sufficient to generate sub-lethal effects (Bayat et al. 2014). The level of exposure required to generate sub-lethal effects is not understood and requires additional research. Herbicides may benefit Pallid Bats by reducing vegetation and creating more open areas, or negatively affect them by reducing vegetation important to their insect prey (Gervais 2016). Use of insecticides in Pallid Bat foraging habitat will reduce insects (review in Williams-Guillén et al. 2015) and may negatively affect prey species of Pallid Bat. Research to clarify the impact of pesticides on Pallid Bats is required.

5 Recovery goal and objectives

5.1 Recovery (population and distribution) goal

The recovery (population and distribution) goal is to maintain current Pallid Bat populations within their Canadian range.

5.2 Rationale for the recovery (population and distribution) goal

The current known range and population estimate of the Pallid Bat in Canada is based on approximately 125 records. Although the known range is quite restricted, the actual range may be larger because suitable habitat exists in Canada outside of the South Okanagan Valley. Therefore, it is possible that the species may currently occupy, or have occupied in the past, a larger range than known at present. The recovery goal focuses on ensuring that Pallid Bat populations are maintained. Actions identified to meet the goal recognize that data on the population size and species range are incomplete. Species recovery will require additional research to document the extent of the species' known range and habitat associations. Actions are also identified to determine trends in Pallid Bat roosting and foraging habitat within its range, and to address gaps in knowledge about Pallid Bat ecology and threats to the species, which will contribute to the goal of maintaining extant populations.

The Pallid Bat is difficult to detect using standard bat inventory techniques, and there is no means for direct measurement of population size. COSEWIC (2010) assessed the species as Threatened owing to its small estimated population size; that is, likely more than 250 mature individuals (the quantitative threshold between assessment as Threatened vs. Endangered) but fewer than 1000 (the quantitative threshold between assessment as Threatened vs. Special Concern). The lower bound in population size was based on Rambaldini (2006), who estimated that "at least" 250 Pallid Bats reside in the Okanagan Valley during summer months, based on roost surveys where one roost used by males had up to 130 individuals, and several additional roosts with fewer bats were discovered. Nevertheless, she indicated this is likely a "gross underestimate" of the total population as several additional sites known to be occupied by the species were not included in the surveys.

A specific population target (i.e., number of mature individuals) is not specified in the recovery goal because of the uncertainty surrounding the number of mature Pallid Bats in Canada, and the difficulty associated with directly monitoring population size. Instead, it is recommended that current numbers (comprising at least 250, and possibly up to 1000 individuals) are maintained. Until such time as population size can be accurately and directly measured, the recovery goal will be measured through ongoing vital rate monitoring, thus ensuring Pallid Bat occupancy of known roost sites, and through monitoring abundance of suitable foraging habitat. Recovery actions must include surveys to determine species distribution, roost locations, and hibernacula. If the species is ultimately detected outside of its current known range the population and associated habitat should also be considered important for the species' survival and recovery, and maintained.

5.3 Recovery objectives

The recovery objectives for the Pallid Bat are to:

  1. ProtectFootnote12, manage, and monitor Pallid Bat habitats, including maternity roosts, day roosts, hibernacula, night roosts, and foraging habitat to ensure that suitable characteristics of the habitat remain available to the species;
  2. Determine Pallid Bat population trends and vital rates (e.g., survival rates, reproductive rates);
  3. Identify the full range extent of the Pallid Bat in British Columbia, with a focus on identifying the location of maternity roosts and hibernacula;
  4. Conduct research into the impact of threats to roosts and foraging habitat (e.g., habitat conversion and development, grazing, fire and fire suppression), threats to bats (e.g., white-nose syndrome, recreational activities, human disturbance, and pesticide use) and effectiveness of recovery actions; and
  5. Improve our understanding of key factors contributing to Pallid Bat decline, and possible constraints to recovery.

6 Approaches to meet recovery objectives

6.1 Actions already completed or underway

The following actions have been categorized under the action groups of the B.C. Conservation Framework (B.C. Ministry of Environment 2009). Status of the action group for this species is given in parentheses.

Compile Status Report (complete)
  • COSEWIC report completed (Willis and Bast 2000; COSEWIC 2010).
List under Wildlife Act (complete)
  • It is an offence to kill or capture the species under the provincial Wildlife Act.
Send to COSEWIC (complete)
  • Pallid Bat assessed as Threatened (Willis and Bast 2000; COSEWIC 2010).
Planning (completed)
  • Provincial Recovery Strategy completed (Pallid Bat Recovery Team 2008). Updated Recovery Plan completed (this document, 2016).
Habitat Protection (in progress)
  • Table 3 includes examples of protected habitat in the south Okanagan at the time of writing. Protected areas are regularly changing with the addition of new properties; therefore, this list is not complete. Although none of the identified areas were specifically established to protect Pallid Bat habitat, the species will benefit from protection of natural ecological systems, including native grassland and cliffs. Pallid Bat has not been confirmed to use all of the areas identified.
Table 3. Examples of areas in the south Okanagan that are being managed to maintain natural ecological systems. New properties are regularly added to protected areas. This is not a complete list. Pallid Bat has not been confirmed to use all of the habitat listed.
Name Potential Pallid Bat habitat protected Land owner Size (ha)i
Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park Foraging and roosting Province of BC 489
Skaha Lake Foraging and roosting Nature Trust (managed by FLRNO) 114.2
White Lake Grasslands Protected Area Foraging and roosting Province of BC 3741
South Okanagan Grasslands Protected Area Foraging (note that mine audits are present on the site) Province of BC 9364
South Okanagan Wildlife Management Area Foraging Province of BC 903
Haynes Lease Ecological Reserve Foraging Province of BC 101
Antelope Brush Conservation Area Foraging Nature Trust 117.1
Vaseux Lake Roosting and foraging Nature Trust 479.8
Kilpoola Lake Foraging Nature Trust 46.8
Okanagan Falls Grassland Foraging and roosting Nature Trust 7
Sage and Sparrow Grasslands Foraging, potentially roosting Nature Conservancy of Canada 1390
White Lake Basin Biodiversity Ranch Foraging, potentially roosting Nature Trust 905.9
Okanagan Falls Biodiversity Ranch Foraging, potentially roosting Nature Trust 713.2
Mahoney Lake Ecological Reserve Foraging Province of BC 29.5
Vaseux Protected Area Foraging Province of BC 2015
Vaseux Bighorn National Wildlife Area Roosting and foraging Crown (federal; Environment and Climate Change Canada) 812
McTaggart-Cowan/ Nsək'łniw't Wildlife Management Area Foraging habitat and potentially roosting habitat Province of BC 6491
wəx̌wnitkw
(Okanagan Falls) Provincial Park
Drinking water Province of BC 2
Vaseux Lake Provincial Park Foraging Province of BC 12
Inkaneep Provincial Park Drinking water, foraging habitat Province of BC 16

i This is the size of the property; not all of the area will necessarily be suitable for roosting and/or foraging.

Table 4. Existing mechanisms that afford habitat protection for the Pallid Bat.
Existing mechanisms that afford habitat protection Threatj or concern addressed Site
Purchase and management of land for natural ecosystem values All See Table 3
Provincial parks managed for maintaining natural values while allowing some recreation and other activities All See Table 3
Wildlife management areas All None yet identified specifically for Pallid Bat; however, portions of the South Okanagan Wildlife Management Area and McTaggart-Cowan/ Nsək'łniw't Wildlife Management Area may have suitable habitat for Pallid Bat
Best practices documents for working in grassland 2.3, 6.1 All foraging habitat
Best practices documents for recreational users, such as climbers and cavers), concerning disturbance of bats, white-nose syndrome, motorized recreation 6.1 All cliff habitat and caves
Decontamination protocols for cavers and researchers to prevent spread of white-nose syndrome 6.3, 8.1 All caves and mines
Guidelines for assessments before mine closure, and strategies to minimize effects of the closure on bats (e.g., using gating to allow bat access but maintain microclimate) 3.2 All mines

j Threat numbers according to the IUCN–CMP classification (see Table 2 for details).

Habitat Restoration (in progress)
  • Stewardship groups are active in the Okanagan, working to restore natural wetlands and grasslands. Although none of these projects specifically benefit the Pallid Bat, natural habitat restoration in this species' range will likely improve its foraging opportunities. Wetland restoration will provide drinking water for the species. The effect of these activities on the Pallid Bat's use of the ecosystem is unknown.
  • Active restoration management actions have been undertaken by the province in the White Lake Grassland Protected Area. The goal is to restore pre-fire vegetation composition and structure and to reduce invasive species (Millar 2007).
  • Restoration in the Vaseux Bighorn National Wildlife Area included prescribed burning and control of invasive alien plant species (Environment Canada 2011).
  • In the Okanagan, the Nature Trust of British Columbia, in partnership with B.C. Ministry of Environment, has begun grassland restoration projects on two ranches--the White Lake Basin and Okanagan Falls Biodiversity ranches. Biodiversity ranches use grazing as a management tool to maintain and/or restore the natural grassland ecosystem and associated habitats (Warman and Adair 2013).
  • Kreitzman et al. (2015) provided an overview of some conservation and restoration work in the south Okanagan-Similkameen.
Private Land Stewardship (in progress)
  • No habitat areas are currently managed specifically for Pallid Bat; however, the species will benefit from any activities that maintain or enhance native grassland habitat, or maintain cliff and cave habitat.
  • Private lands account for approximately 30% of the Okanagan-Similkameen's land base (Wildlife Habitat Canada 2015).
  • Numerous stewardship documents have been developed (e.g. BC Grasslands Stewardship Guide: A Guide for Ranchers and Recreation Users (Chutter 1997). Use of stewardship/best management principles is voluntary.
  • Numerous areas have been purchased by conservation organizations and are managed with the goal of maintaining natural ecosystem values (see Table 3).
Species and Population Management (in progress)
  • It is an offence to kill or capture the species under the province's Wildlife Act.
  • Bat surveys in the south Okanagan, and in other potentially suitable grasslands elsewhere in the province (e.g., Lillooet), have included surveys for Pallid Bat to determine presence, identify roosts, and to confirm hibernation sites (in Vaseux-Bighorn National Wildlife Area). Some of the work completed includes: Robertson (1988); Collard et al. (1990); Chapman et al. (1994); Holroyd et al. (1994); Sarell et al. (1997); Sarell and Haney (2000); Rambaldini (2006); Sarell (2007); Rambaldini and Brigham (2008); Sarell et al. (2011); Rambaldini and Brigham (2011); Sarell (2012); Sarell et al. (2012); Hemmera Envirochem Inc. (2015); C. Lausen, pers. comm. (2015); and T. Luszcz, pers. comm. (2016).
  • A habitat capability-suitability model has been created for Pallid Bat and was recently updated (Warman et al. 1998; Haney, pers. comm., 2015). The model includes breeding, summer roosting, and foraging habitat, and provides ratings by biogeoclimatic zone, ecosystem, ecosystem attributes (aspect and slope), and ecosystem condition (range condition and forest successional stage). The model also includes rating adjustments for vegetation stand closure (the presence of dense shrub cover or moderate or dense tree cover lowers a rating), and proximity of the breeding/roosting habitat to foraging habitat, where foraging habitat more than 8 km from roosting/breeding is considered less suitable.
  • Ecosystem mapping for the area has been conducted (e.g., Iverson and Haney 2012).
  • Protocols have been developed to minimize the spread of the fungus causing white-nose syndrome (B.C. Ministry of Environment and B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations 2015a, b), as well as a national plan to manage this disease in Canada (Canadian Wildlife Heath Cooperative 2015).

6.2 Recovery action table

Table 5. Recovery actions and performance measures for Pallid Bat for each recovery objective.
Objective Action Conservation Framework action groupk Actions to meet objectives Performance measures Threatl or concern addressed Prioritym
1

Actions 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 3-3 will assist in meeting Objective 1.
1 Habitat Protection, Habitat Restoration, Private Land Stewardship For each known roost, and foraging area within 4.5 km of roosts, identify type of habitat, ownership, type of existing protection if any, current threats, and current management protocols. Use information to identify priority areas for habitat protection and threat mitigation.

Process:

  1. A protocol for monitoring changes in habitat availability and suitability is developed and implemented.
  2. Creation of spatially explicit maps of habitat for the species.
  3. Database updated as new habitat located.
  4. Roosts and foraging habitat are prioritized for protection, habitat restoration, and threat mitigation.

Achievement:

  1. Baseline information is used to guide recovery actions, and is used to assess the effect of recovery actions
All Essential
1

Actions 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 3-3 will assist in meeting Objective 1.
2 Habitat Protection

Investigate and implement potential strategies for habitat protection for specific areas of habitat. Options:

  • Include Pallid Bat in the Identified Wildlife Management Strategy (IWMS) and identifying Wildlife Habitat Areas.
  • Designate habitat as a wildlife management area, conservation area, or provincial park.
  • Collaborate with land conservancy organizations and owners/managers of priority areas to implement and/or develop options to protect Pallid Bat roosts and foraging habitats (e.g., through acquisition, conservation, covenant, etc.).

Process:

  1. # projects implemented to protect habitat for Pallid Bat.
  2. Pallid Bat assessed for its potential to be included as an Identified Wildlife species.
  3. Pallid Bat designated as Identified Wildlife (if suitable).
  4. # of Wildlife Habitat Areas proposed (if suitable).
  5. # (%) of landowners/managers contacted.
  6. # (% of area) of unprotected areas where protection is established.
  7. % of priority areas that are protected.

Achievement:

  1. All landowners/managers contacted.
  2. % of all important roosts protected.
  3. % of suitable foraging habitat within 4.5 km of important roosts protected.
All Essential
1

Actions 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 3-3 will assist in meeting Objective 1.
3 Habitat Restoration In areas of existing protected habitat (municipal, provincial, or federal) within the range of the species, encourage land managers/park planners to survey for and manage (including threat mitigation) Pallid Bat habitat on the area.

Process:

  1. # of land managers/park planners contacted and provided with information about Pallid Bat.
  2. # (%) of areas where Pallid Bat habitat is considered in management.
  3. # (%) of areas where surveys are conducted for Pallid Bats or Pallid Bat habitat.
  4. # (%) of areas where a monitoring program to assess the effect of mitigation options is implemented.

Achievement: Inclusion of Pallid Bat habitat and/or consideration of the species' life history requirements in management plans.

All Essential
1

Actions 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 3-3 will assist in meeting Objective 1.
4 Habitat Protection, Habitat Restoration, Private Land Stewardship Investigate potential strategies for threat mitigation, develop best practices documents for all threats, implement threat mitigation at high priority sites, and assess the effectiveness of the actions.

Process:

  1. # funding proposals submitted and amount of funding secured for threat mitigation.
  2. # (% of sites where considered necessary) of sites where threat mitigation initiated.
  3.  # of threats for which a best practices document is developed.
  4. % of areas that are managed to retain suitable characteristics for Pallid Bat.
  5. For activities requiring permits that may disturb potential habitat (e.g., cliff, cave, mine, grassland habitat), # (%) of permits that require the proponent to conduct surveys for Pallid Bat and their habitat as part of the permit procedure.
  6. % of threat mitigation projects in which a monitoring program to assess the effectiveness of threat mitigation is implemented.
  7. At least one threat mitigation project is initiated by end 2019.

Achievement:

  1. Assessment of threat mitigation effectiveness used to improve techniques and gather information on habitat use by Pallid Bat.
  2. Monitoring of amount of suitable foraging habitat within 4.5 km of each significant roost shows no loss, or increase, over baseline.
  3. Roosts in proximity to habitat where threat mitigation has occurred show continued occupancy, and population size is maintained or increased.
All Essential
1

Actions 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 3-3 will assist in meeting Objective 1.
5 Private Land Stewardship Encourage landowners/
leaseholders to voluntarily manage their properties so as to maintain suitable habitat for bats and bat habitat (e.g., implement best management practices, threat mitigation) and monitor effect of management actions.

Process:

  1. # (%) of landowners contacted and stewardship documents and/or management guidance shared, where appropriate.
  2. # (%) sites where landowners engage in voluntary stewardship options or implement best practices.

Achievement:

  1. # (%) of unprotected properties that are protected or managed in a manner that will benefit Pallid Bat through voluntary stewardship actions.
  2. Assessment of threat mitigation effectiveness used to improve techniques and gather information on habitat use by Pallid Bat.
All Necessary
1

Actions 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, 3-3 will assist in meeting Objective 1.
6 All Develop and deliver an outreach strategy on best practices and threat mitigation to stakeholders that are active in or around Pallid Bat habitat. The outreach strategy should aim to raise awareness of how activities can affect bat species, particularly where bats might be killed or disturbed, or habitat degraded (e.g., climbing areas, areas of recreation overlap with bats), and encourage recreational users to restrict their activities to established recreation areas instead of creating new routes.

Process:

  1. Development of an outreach strategy and materials for each group of stakeholders/threat.
  2. Initiation of an outreach program for species (and bat) awareness, general conservation approaches that would benefit the species, and the use of best practices.
  3. # people targeted through outreach (e.g., # people contacted, # recreation groups or societies contacted, # downloads of materials, website traffic data, # attendees at presentations).
  4. # (%) of recreation groups or societies that distribute best practice information to their members

Achievement:

  1. Monitoring of amount of suitable foraging habitat within 4.5 km of each significant roost shows no loss (over baseline) related to recreational activities.
  2. Monitoring at roost sites shows no new climbing routes established.
1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 3.2, 4.1, 6.1, 8.1 Beneficial
2

Actions 3-1, 3-2, 3-3 and 5-3 will assist in meeting Objective 2
1 Species Population Management Monitor occupancy and population trends at known roosts where the roost type allows such surveys, or techniques can be developed to facilitate surveys. Techniques should consider the species' sensitivity to disturbance.

Process:

  1. Implementation of monitoring program by end 2018.
  2. # (%) of roosts monitored each year.
  3. # (%) of known roosts occupied each year.
  4. Implementation of pilot program to test effectiveness of new survey techniques.
  5. # of novel, more efficient, techniques developed to identify and monitor roosts and habitat, and to capture and track individuals.
  6. # of times bats vacate/abandon roosts because of disturbance.

Achievement:

  1. Information on Pallid Bat disturbance used to refine survey techniques.
  2. Important roosts are monitored annually.
  3. Information from surveys used to update estimate of population size of Pallid Bat in province and at least 250 mature individuals are estimated to remain in the population.
  4. Populations at all monitored roosts stable or increasing.
  5. Data on population trends used to assess success of threat mitigation or management in the area.
Knowledge gaps Essential
2

Actions 3-1, 3-2, 3-3 and 5-3 will assist in meeting Objective 2
2 Species Population Management Determine vital rates of Pallid Bat.

Process:

  1. Research protocol developed to minimize negative effects; peer-review finds benefits outweigh costs.
  2. # of projects initiated to research Pallid Bat vital rates.
  3. # of bats captured and marked; number of recaptures.

Achievement:

  1. Clarification of Pallid Bat ecology and vital rates assist in understanding limiting factors and threats for Pallid Bat.
  2. Vital rate measurement used as a method of assessing mitigation efforts in specific habitats.
Knowledge gaps Beneficial
3

Actions 4-2, 5-1, and 5-2 will assist in meeting Objective 3.
1 Species Population Management Determine the species' range.

Process:

  1. The potential range for the species and priority areas for inventory outside the current known range are identified based on previous surveys, habitat suitability mapping, and expert opinion.
  2. # potential roosting and foraging sites with surveys in progress. Sampling intensity should be sufficient to state that, in areas in which the species was not detected, the species does not occur.
  3. Change in size of known range based on surveys.
  4. Proportion of potential range surveyed.
  5. Achievement:
  6. All areas of potential habitat outside the species' known range surveyed with sufficient intensity to be confident that the species does or does not occur.
  7. Data on absence of Pallid Bat within its range used to inform habitat and/or threat management as appropriate.
Knowledge gaps Essential
3

Actions 4-2, 5-1, and 5-2 will assist in meeting Objective 3.
2 Species Population Management Identify additional maternity roosts and collect information on habitat attributes used by individuals.

Process:

  1. Priority areas for inventory identified based on previous surveys inside and outside its known range, habitat suitability mapping, and expert opinion.
  2. # surveys initiated to identify maternity roosts.
  3. # of females radio-tracked.
  4. # of new roosts/areas discovered (maternity, night).
  5. # of females tracked to collect data on distance travelled to foraging areas, type of foraging habitat used, distance to night roost and type of night roost.
  6. # of maternity roosts and night roosts at which data collected on attributes of the roost.
  7. Identification of the location of at least five additional maternity roosts by end of 2020.

Achievement:

  1. Additional maternity roosts added to monitoring programs, threat assessments, and threat mitigation programs.
  2. Data on absence of Pallid Bat within its range used to inform habitat and/or threat management as appropriate.
  3. Data on types of habitat used by Pallid Bat for maternity roosts, night roosts, and movement patterns of individuals is incorporated into habitat descriptions for the species and is used in modeling to identify areas of high potential suitability habitat, and in management and mitigation plans.
Knowledge gaps Essential
3

Actions 4-2, 5-1, and 5-2 will assist in meeting Objective 3.
3 Species Population Management Identify the location of hibernacula and collect information on habitat attributes.

Process:

  1. # surveys initiated to identify hibernacula.
  2. # of bats radio-tracked.
  3. # hibernacula discovered.
  4. # of other roosts discovered (day roosts, maternity roosts, night roosts, swarming sites) during research project.
  5. Collection of data on attributes of hibernacula and other roosts discovered and used to refine search for additional hibernacula.

Achievement:

  1. Improved understanding of winter ecology of Pallid Bat.
  2. Hibernacula added to monitoring programs, threat assessments, and threat mitigation programs.
  3. Data on types of habitat used by Pallid Bat for hibernacula and movement patterns is incorporated into habitat descriptions for the species and is used in modeling to identify areas of high potential suitability habitat, and in protection, management, and mitigation plans.
Knowledge gaps Essential
4

Actions 1-1, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, and 1-6 will assist in meeting Objective 4.
1 Species Population Management Implement decontamination protocols for winter research in caves and mines.

Process:

  1. % of winter research in caves and mines that use decontamination protocols.
  2. # contacts with the caving community to distribute best practices information on decontamination.

Achievement:

  1. Research permits require the use of decontamination protocols.
  2. All winter research in caves and mines implement decontamination protocols.
  3. Cavers aware of and use decontamination protocols appropriately.
6.3, 8.1 Essential
4

Actions 1-1, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, and 1-6 will assist in meeting Objective 4.
2 Species Population Management Develop, in collaboration with partner organizations, an aggressive white-nose syndrome program for the province that includes a monitoring program and research on mitigation.

Process:

  1. Monitoring program is initiated by winter 2016–2017 using methods/survey intensity with high confidence to detect white-nose syndrome, if present.
  2. # hibernacula monitored for signs of white-nose syndrome (bat activity in winter, dead bats in or near hibernacula, etc.).
  3. # bats encountered in hibernacula.
  4. # bats captured in summer examined for signs of white-nose syndrome.
  5. # hibernacula sampled for presence of the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome.
  6. # dead bats examined/sampled for presence of the fungus.
  7. Initiation of mitigation research.

Achievement:

  1. Data collection in summer used to assess presence of white-nose syndrome (e.g., sudden decline in a roost population, signs of scarring or other symptoms of white-nose syndrome on captured bats, presence of fungus in hibernacula).
  2. Discovery of the presence of white-nose syndrome in the province used to inform threat mitigation actions.
8.1, Knowledge gaps Essential
4

Actions 1-1, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, and 1-6 will assist in meeting Objective 4.
3 Species Population Management Conduct research to clarify the threat of human disturbance on Pallid Bat.

Process:

  1. # of sites where data are collected on impact of human activity on bat activity (e.g., roost abandonment).
  2. # of types of activity that are included in research projects (e.g., researchers, climbing, loud noise, etc.).
  3. # sites where research to assess the effect of mitigation is initiated.

Achievement:

  1. Information on the effect of human disturbance on Pallid Bat is used to inform research techniques, and our understanding of causes of decline and constraints to recovery of the species.
  2. Information is incorporated in threat assessments and mitigation and management plans.
6.1, 6.3 Knowledge gaps Beneficial
4

Actions 1-1, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, and 1-6 will assist in meeting Objective 4.
4 Species Population Management Conduct research to clarify effect of threats where impact is unknown (e.g., grazing, fire and fire suppression, and pesticides).

Process:

  1. # and size of areas where each threat has a potential effect on Pallid Bat habitat.
  2. # of sites and proportion of area included in research on the effect of each threat.
  3. # occasions where research on threat impacts resulted in mitigation to minimize the threat at that or other sites.

Achievement:

  1. Clarification of the impact of threats on Pallid Bat habitat or Pallid Bat vital rates.
  2. Information used to update the threat assessment for the species, prioritize threats for Pallid Bat at each location, and to guide mitigation/management options and development of best management practices.
2.3, 7.1, 9.3, Knowledge gaps Beneficial
5  Actions 2-1, 2-2, 3-2, 3-3, 4-3, and 4-4 will assist in meeting Objective 5. 1 Species Population Management Compile information on availability of roost habitat.

Process:

  1. Habitat suitability mapping to identify areas of potential roost habitat is completed and is updated based on surveys and latest data on types of suitable habitat.
  2. Area of suitable roosting habitat lost (calculated by disturbance type and roost type) or gained (through mitigation or management).

Achievement:

  1. Data on availability of roost habitat is used to inform surveys for the species.
  2. Information on availability of roost habitat is used to inform our understanding of limiting factors for Pallid Bat recovery, and used in management and mitigation plans.
Knowledge gaps Necessary
5  Actions 2-1, 2-2, 3-2, 3-3, 4-3, and 4-4 will assist in meeting Objective 5. 2 Species Population Management, Habitat Restoration Compile information on availability of suitable foraging habitat.

Process:

  1. Habitat suitability mapping to identify areas of suitable foraging habitat (native grassland habitat and modified grassland identified separately) is completed and updated based on site surveys.

Achievement:

  1. Data on availability of suitable foraging habitat is used to inform our understanding of limiting factors for Pallid Bat recover, and is included in threats assessments, and in management and mitigation plans.
Knowledge gaps Necessary
5  Actions 2-1, 2-2, 3-2, 3-3, 4-3, and 4-4 will assist in meeting Objective 5. 3 Species Population Management Conduct research on the sex ratio of Pallid Bat in British Columbia.

Process:

  1. # bats captured.
  2. % of total bats captured that are female.

Achievement:

  1. Information on sex ratio of Pallid Bat is used to inform our understanding of limiting factors, causes of decline, and threats to recovery.
Knowledge gaps Beneficial

k Conservation Framework designation: HP = habitat protection; HR = habitat restoration; PLS – private land stewardship; SPM = species and population management.

l Threat numbers according to the IUCN–CMP classification (see Table 2 for details).

m Essential (urgent and important, needs to start immediately); Necessary (important but not urgent, action can start in 2–5 years); or Beneficial (action is beneficial and could start at any time that was feasible).

6.3 Narrative to support recovery action table

Recommended actions have been categorized by the action groups of the B.C. Conservation Framework. Necessary actions to support recovery include habitat protection, habitat restoration, private land stewardship, and species and population management.

6.3.1 Habitat protection, restoration, and private land stewardship

The unique, arid ecosystem in the southern Okanagan is an area of great conservation interest, and is home to many at-risk ecosystems and species. Recovery of Pallid Bat can be promoted through collaboration with conservation groups and others working toward recovery of ecosystems and other species in the area.

Priority habitat areas for protection, restoration, and private land stewardship should include all known maternity roosts/roosting areas, all hibernacula, other roosts used by more than 10 individuals, and foraging habitat within 4.5 km of known roosts. Threat mitigation should be prioritized in habitat within protected areas or areas managed for conservation, areas with the largest colonies (including the roosting habitat and surrounding foraging habitat), and around hibernacula.

Some Pallid Bat are already protected, such as those recorded from conservation areas and areas owned and managed by conservancy organizations. Recovery actions should include the identification of additional areas that are protected or are candidates for habitat protection, and the investigation of different types of habitat protection. For example, the potential to have Pallid Bat designated as Identified Wildlife under the Identified Wildlife Management Strategy (Province of British Columbia 2004), on the basis of possible negative impacts on foraging and roosting habitat from forestry and range activities, should be explored. Habitat protection by the provincial government through wildlife management areas, ecological reserves, protected areas and provincial parks,Footnote13 and conservation areas owned and managed by conservation organizations, means that connected native habitat in the south Okanagan could be maintained within the known range of the species.

Private land stewardship will be essential to the recovery of the species because many of the known locations of Pallid Bat are on private land. Fundamental protection for a suite of species-at-risk in this area can be achieved through encouraging habitat stewardship by private landowners with a collaborative approach. Proactive contact with landowners/managers can identify opportunities for land stewardship, and identify instances where landowners can be supported, establishing a positive working relationship. Development of best practices documents to address and mitigate threats to the species can provide information to landowners and managers. On private lands, protection of habitat can be achieved through conservation agreements, conservation covenants, and habitat management facilitated by conservation organizations. Landowners/managers can be encouraged to maintain or improve bat habitat by: implementing best management practices around bat habitat (e.g., cave and crevice habitat, mines); implementing best practices to maintain or restore native grassland habitat; and actions to mitigate threats identified for the habitat. For public activities that are threats (e.g., rock-climbing, off-road vehicle use) in specific areas, a targeted education outreach program to specific stakeholders to voluntarily implement best practices is important. Encouraging recreational users to restrict their activities to defined areas instead of establishing new climbing routes or riding their vehicles off-trail, will restrict expansion of human activity and disturbance.

For all habitat protection and restoration activities, as well as landowner outreach, securing funding to support activities (from e.g., the federal Habitat Stewardship Fund) will increase the chance of success.

6.3.2 Species and population management

Species recovery will require additional research to document the extent of the species' known range and habitat associations, and to clarify limiting factors and the impact of threats on the species.

The Pallid Bat is reported to be sensitive to disturbance. Researchers should recognize their potential effect on the species, and should track instances of disturbance. Any research technique or protocol that involves capture of bats, or potential disturbance of bats, must be carefully considered and a rationale provided that shows the benefits of the activity outweigh the potential costs to the species. Best practices should be used and methods implemented to mitigate any potential negative effects (e.g., Barclay and Bell 1988; Canadian Council on Animal Care 2003; Ellison 2008; Amelon et al. 2009; O'Mara et al. 2014).

An initial action to support recovery of the species should be the development of a list of threats for each known occurrence of Pallid Bat (including roosts and foraging habitat), and priorities for threat mitigation. In addition, a research and inventory framework should be developed that identifies a prioritized list of research and inventory activities to address knowledge gaps about the ecology of Pallid Bat (current distribution; location of summer day and night roosts; movement patterns, including seasonal movements and movements between roosting and foraging habitat; use, location, and characteristics of winter habitat; and impact of threats). Through the development of these two documents, recovery actions will be prioritized and tracked.

A priority for recovery actions is to survey for the species both inside and outside its known range. A focus of these surveys should be on identifying additional maternity roosts and discovering hibernacula. Discovery of additional populations will increase the proportion of the population that can be protected, and facilitate the ability to provide a more precise population estimate. Surveys should focus on locations:

  • outside the range where acoustic detections or expert opinion suggest the species occurs;
  • outside the range where habitat suitability modeling has identified suitable habitat for the species; and
  • within the range to further elucidate habitat use of the species, and to monitor known populations and habitats.

The species is difficult to survey; therefore, surveys in areas where the species is not known to occur should employ sufficient effort such that, if the species is not detected, the study provides statistical confidence that the species is not present. To support these surveys, investigating and testing novel, efficient, techniques to assist in capturing or verifying the presence of the species is also recommended. Collecting and compiling data on characteristics of habitat used by Pallid Bat for day roosting, night roosting, and foraging will assist in refining habitat suitability models.

Capture surveys of the species will be essential in determining whether the sex ratio of Pallid Bat in the province is skewed toward males as data collected to date indicate, or whether males and females generally roost separately and the male-biased sex ratio reflects limited sampling. This will affect the understanding of factors limiting the recovery of the species.

An important aspect of tracking recovery of the species is monitoring trends in roost occupancy and use, population size, and foraging habitat. Monitoring trends will provide information on whether recovery actions to maintain the species is adequate, and will provide updated information to prioritize conservation actions for specific areas.

The most significant threat to Pallid Bat is suspected to be white-nose syndrome (Threat 8.1), based on the assumption that the species is susceptible to the disease. Monitoring this disease in Pallid Bat should be included as part of a province-wide monitoring program designed to detect its presence in British Columbia, and to determine its impact on provincial bat species. All other threats to Pallid Bat are cumulative to the potentially devastating effect of white-nose syndrome, if the species is shown to be susceptible to the disease.

The impact of some threats to Pallid Bat are unknown (e.g., Threats 2.3, 7.1, and 9.3). Research to identify the impacts of these threats, and how they can be mitigated, is an important action to promote the long-term persistence of the species.

7 Species survival and recovery habitat

7.1 Biophysical description of the species' survival/recovery habitat

Survival/recovery habitat is defined as the habitat that is necessary for the survival or recovery of the species. This is the area in which the species naturally occurs or depends on, directly or indirectly, to carry out its life-cycle processes, or where the species formerly occurred and has the potential to reoccupy.

A description of the known biophysical features and attributes of the species' habitat that are required to support its life-cycle functions are provided in Section 3.3. Work required to identify additional habitat requirements and species distribution are included in the Recovery Action Table (Table 5) in Section 6.2.

7.2 Spatial description of the species' survival/recovery habitat

The area of survival/recovery habitat required for a species is guided by the amount of habitat needed to achieve the recovery goal. Although no survival/recovery maps are included with this document, it is recommended that location of survival/recovery habitat is spatially described to help mitigate habitat threats and to facilitate actions for meeting the recovery (population and distribution) goals.

8 Measuring progress

Performance indicators provide a way to define and measure progress toward achieving the recovery (population and distribution) goals and objectives. Performance indicators are included with the Recovery Action Table (Table 5; Section 6.2) and explained in Section 6.3.

The target for Pallid Bat is that all important roosts (maternity roosts, hibernacula, and other significant roosts or roosting areas [used by >10 bats]) are secured either through formal protection, such as in a park or with a conservation covenant, or through voluntary stewardship actions with the goals to retain attributes important for the species, and to mitigate threats at the site. Performance indicators in the Recovery Action Table track progress in meeting the target of 100% securement of these roosts. Setting timelines for 100% securement is difficult because much of the Pallid Bat's habitat is on private land and actions are voluntary. Process measures are included to set milestones for recovery.

The interim target for foraging habitat for Pallid Bat is to maintain or increase the amount of suitable foraging habitat for Pallid Bat within 4.5 km of roosts, with the overall target to have 100% of the foraging habitat within 4.5 km of roosts suitable for the species. Performance indicators in the Recovery Action Table track progress in meeting the target of no loss of foraging habitat over the current baseline situation.

To address knowledge gaps about the range of Pallid Bat, the species' ecology and threat impacts to the species, many recovery actions focus on surveys to determine the species' distribution, the locations of summer and winter roosts, occupancy of known roosts, and information about vital rates of the species. Because specific targets for number of individuals have not been established beyond maintaining more than 250 mature individuals in the population, these data will be used to indicate the success of species recovery. Data from surveys will assist in developing a more precise estimate of the population size of the Pallid Bat.

9 Effects on other species

Pallid Bat recovery may have little direct effect on other species or ecological processes, especially since there is no intent to enhance the population(s) above natural carrying capacity. Many species will benefit indirectly from recovery efforts. Other SARA-listed bats, such as Spotted Bat (Euderma maculatum; Special Concern), Little Brown Myotis (Endangered), and Fringed Myotis (Myotis thysanodes; Data Deficient) should be monitored and opportunistically studied when conducting surveys or research on Pallid Bat. Protecting foraging habitats will benefit many other SARA-listed species, such as the Western Rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus), Desert Nightsnake (Hypsiglena chlorophaea), Great Basin Gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer deserticola), Western Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma mavortium), Great Basin Spadefoot (Spea intermontana), Behr's Hairstreak (Satyrium behrii), and American Badger (Taxidea taxus). Protecting roosting habitat for the species could benefit other cliff-roosting bat species, such as Spotted Bat, Little Brown Myotis, and Fringed Myotis, as well as other cliff-roosting species. Recovery planning activities for Pallid Bat will be implemented with consideration for all co-occurring species at risk, such that no negative impacts occur to these species or their habitats.

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Warman, L., S. Robertson, A. Haney, and M. Sarell. 1998. Habitat capability and suitability models for 34 wildlife species using terrestrial ecosystem mapping (1:20,000) in the South Okanagan and Lower Similkameen study area and forest cover mapping (1:200,000) in the Penticton Forest District. B.C. Min. Environ., Lands Parks, Wildl. Br., Penticton, BC.

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Personal communications

Dyer, O., Ecosystem Biologist, BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, Penticton, BC.
Chapman, K., Consultant, Powell River, BC.
Haney, A., Ophiuchus Consulting, Oliver, BC.
Lausen, C., Wildlife Conservation Society Canada, Kaslo, BC.
Luszcz, T., Partners in Flight BC/Yukon Great Basin Program Manager, Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Persello, B., Environmental Services Manager, B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Kamloops, BC.
Sarell, M., Ophiuchus Consulting, Oliver, BC.
Tillie, J., Manager Partnerships, Policies and Standard. B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Victoria, BC.

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